A Guide to the Round Top Texas Antique Show

Twice a year, 4,000 of the world’s best antique, vintage, and home decor dealers load up their wares and haul them to Round Top, Texas, a tiny, in-the-middle-of-nowhere town just east of Austin. Hoping to grab the attention of over 100,000 attendees that descend upon the village (with a current population of a whopping 88 people), there’s a good chance that whatever you’re looking for, you’ll find it there.

The Round Top Antiques Show is held twice a year (a shorter, mini winter show has been recently added to the calendar). During the spring, Texas bluebonnets dot the sides of the two-lane country highway, and in the fall you might see signs of the changing seasons. Highway 237 is the lone road that leads you both in and out of Round Top, but with over 20 miles of treasure hunting on both sides, why would you ever want to leave?

“I found it at Round Top.”

Once the hidden secret of designers and resellers, the secret of Round Top, Texas has gotten out. You can’t flip through a home magazine without finding, at the very least, a blurb about the two-week and three-weekend antiques fair. A quick internet search even yields an article in Architectural Digest. If Texas is hot, Round Top is on fire. Sitings of big-name designers (Leanne Ford, Studio McGee, Kelly Wearstler) and Hollywood celebrities (Gwen Stefani, Matthew McConaughey, Miranda Lambert) can be spotted by both dealers and shoppers.

It’s Big: The Original Red Barn, the Fields, Blue Hills, Marburger & More

Started over 51 years ago by Emma Lee Turney, the show is now BIG. Dealers are spread out in fields-literally cow pastures, metal storage buildings, historic dance halls, tents, or air-conditioned buildings that are akin to a retail store. You can find anything from a $1.00 silver-plated fork to an 17th-century French chateau tile. Anything from garage sale-worthy junk to museum-quality pieces can be purchased from an array of both local and international dealers. Americana, Mid Century, European, Modern, Shaker, and any style you can mix, match and imagine is all there. Oh, the things you’ll see at Round Top!

Kaci and Luann have been making the 5-hour journey south for over 15 years. The antique mecca is their go-to source for design, and was their secret honey hole for inventory and merchandising pieces at their previous retail store, Patina Green Home and Market. But most importantly, it’s where we all soak in enough design inspiration to last a lifetime … or at least 6 months until the next show.

Kaci loves to visit her favorite dealers, marveling at their creative displays and unique finds. But her favorite Round Top past time is talking to the “old-timers” in the fields and learning about their collections and the metaphorical road that led them there. After all, we (dealers and shoppers) are all just collectors.

However painful to accept, you cannot see everything there is at Round Top, even if you stay the entire two weeks…sigh. It really is best to start each day with a game plan or you’ll lose track of time sorting through bins in the fields. While fun, especially with ‘ranch water’ in hand, and sure to yield a carload full of amazing treasures, it’s a good idea to orient yourself in the right direction so you can tick off the must-have items on your list.

We’ve compiled a guide to help with all things Round Top, focusing on a general overview of the individual shopping venues, retail shops, and dining options so you won’t be overwhelmed when you arrive. Round Top is growing fast, and new venues are popping up overnight. We’ll update the guide each season in time for the next show. If you stumble upon a spot we haven’t highlighted, please send us an email with the details!